Leanor C. Olsen

     Eleanor Christine (Ortiz) Olsen, age 71 of Sidney, NE passed away at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, CO surrounded by her family on Friday, January 26, 2024.  

      Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, February 2, 2024 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney, NE with Pastor Brenda Pfeifly officiating.  Services will conclude at the church.  Services will be livestreamed on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Facebook page and recorded for later viewing on our website.   

     Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Thursday from 1-6:00 P.M. to sign Leanor's book.  

     You may view Leanor's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.  Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Leanor's care and funeral arrangements.  Memorials can be made in care of the family for a later designation. 

     Leanor was born June 28,1952, in Santa Fe, NM to her parents John and Dolores (Alarid) Ortiz. She was the third of six children and graduated from Highland HS in Albuquerque, NM, in 1970. 

     Leanor and Chris met in Albuquerque, NM, 1971 and got married in 1974.  Their story was like a movie, he was on the search for his biological sister (who was adopted out in their young life), and just happened to be Leanor's childhood best friend.  Together they had three wonderful children, Natalie Marie, Gabriel Christian and Chase Christopher. Chris passed away after his battle with cancer, December of 2016. They would have celebrated 50 years of marriage on February 9th this year. 

     After living in New Mexico and Colorado, they moved to Sidney where they spent their remaining years.  Leanor had multiple jobs through the years, but her main career was working 26 years at Sidney Public Schools as the beloved lunch lady. She loved caring and serving the elementary kids, even breaking the rules to ensure that they never went hungry. She retired, finishing out the school year in May of 2022.  

     Leanor professed her love of the Lord from an early age and you couldn't leave her sight without a quick blessing with a goodbye. She was a very hard worker and was never afraid to jump in and lend a hand. She played a mean hand of cards, loved her Denver Broncos and Nuggets and spent some summers with her sis back home in Albuquerque. More than anything, her children and grandchildren were what her life revolved around. There was nothing that brought her more joy and for that, she was everyone's Grandma and she will be forever missed. 

     Leanor was survived by her children: Natalie Olsen-Jobman and partner Todd Schrotberger of Sidney; Gabriel and wife Laura Leah Olsen of Loveland, CO; Chase and wife, April Olsen of Casper, WY. Her beloved grandchildren: Cayden and Cooper Jobman, Payton Schrotberger; Trey and Olivia Olsen; Riggs and Nash Olsen. Her siblings Judy and husband Tim Rizek of Albuquerque, NM. Brothers John and Jerry Ortiz. In laws Kathy and husband, Rick Nienhuser of Greeley, CO; Dain and wife Ruth Olsen of Potter, NE and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Chris, her parents, John and Dolores Ortiz, twin siblings, Robert & Roberta Ortiz and her Granny, Carmen Alarid.